XII

'tknowtothisdaythattheyaredead." Robinwassilent.Hewasafraidtospeaklestanythinghesaidshouldremindherofthepartsheoughttobeplaying.Hehadnodoubtnowatallthatshewaskeepingasecret.Ahundredquestionswereburningonhislips.Hehatedhimselfforwantingtoaskthem,forbeingsoinquisitive,fortakingadvantageofthegirl'sbeingoffherguard,butwhatareyoutodowithyourinheritedfailings?Robin'smotherwasinquisitiveandithadgotintohisblood,andIknowofnomoralmagnesiathatwillpurifythesethingsaway."Yousaidtheotherday,"heburstoutatlast,quiteunabletostophimself,"thatyouonlyhadyouruncleintheworld.Areyoursisters—aretheyinLondon?" "InLondon?"Priscillagazedathimamomentwithavaguesurprise.Thenfrightflashedintohereyes."DidInottellyoutheyweredead?Smothered?"shesaid,gettingupquickly,herfacesettingintothefrownthathadsochilledTussieontheheath. "ButItookthatasaparable." "HowcanIhelphowyoutookit?" Andsheinstantlylefthimandwentawayroundthetables,beginningthoselittlepleasantobservationstothechildrenagainthatstruckhimassostrange. Welldidheknowthesortofthing.HehadseenLadyShuttleworthdoitfiftytimestothetenants,tothecottagers,atflower-shows,bazaars,onalloccasionsofpublichospitalityorceremonybutpractisedandoldasLadyShuttleworthwasthisgirlseemedyetmorepractised.Shewasafinishedartistinthework,hesaidtohimselfasheleanedagainstthewall,hishandsomefaceflushed,hiseyessulky,watchingher.Itwasenoughtomakeanygood-lookingyoungmansulky,themixtureofmysteryandaloofnessaboutMissNeumann-Schultz.Extraordinaryasitseemed,uptothispointhehadfounditquiteimpossibletoindulgewithherinthatformofmoreorlessillustrateddialogueknowntoSymfordyouthsandmaidensasbillingandcooing.VeryfainwouldRobinhavebilledandhavecooed.Itwasapracticeheexcelledin.Andyetthoughhehaddevotedhimselfforthreewholedays,stoodonladders,nailedupcreepers,boughtandcarriedrum,hadahorriblescenewithhismotherbecauseofher,hehadnotgotaninchnearerthingspersonalandcosy.MissNeumann-Schultzthankedhimquitekindlyandgraciouslyforhispains—oh,shewasverygraciousgraciousinthesortofwayLadyShuttleworthusedtobewhenhecamehomefortheholidaysandshepattedhisheadandutteredbenignities—andhavingthanked,apparentlyforgothimtillthenexttimeshewantedanything. "Fritzi,"saidPriscilla,wheninthecourseofherprogressdowntheroomshemetthatburdenedman,"I'mdreadfullyafraidI'vesaidsomefoolishthings." Fritzingputtheplateofcakehewascarryingdownonadresserandwipedhisforehead."Ma'am,"hesaidlookingworried,"Icannotwatchyouandadministerfoodtothesebarbarianssimultaneously.IfyourtongueissounrulyIwouldrecommendcompletesilence." "I'vesaidsomethingaboutmysisters." "Sisters,ma'am?"saidFritzinganxiously. "Doesitmatter?" "Matter?IhavecarefullyinstructedthewomanPearce,whohascertainlyinformed,asIintendedsheshouldinform,theentirevillage,thatyouweremybrother'sonlychild.Consequently,ma'am,youhavenosisters." Priscillamadeagestureofdespair."Howfearfullydifficultitisnottobestraightforward,"shesaid. "Yes,ma'am,itis.Sincewestart